The Odisha Government has initiated a proposal for institutionalisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and projects of the corporate houses.
The proposal was discussed in a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi on Saturday wherein Industries Principal Secretary Sanjeeb Chopra outlined various facets of the proposal.
Considering the proposal, Padhi directed the department to prepare a detail data base of the industries and corporate houses operating in the State who come under the orbit of CSR regulations and identify the areas of converged action.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan advised the department to look in to various models and practices followed in different parts of the country and suggest the model most suitable for Odisha.
Presenting the proposal, Principal Secretary Chopra said as per preliminary calculation there are near about 287 corporate houses who are taking up some or other CSR activity through their own agencies.
Available data show, in the year 2014-15 a total of around Rs 344 crore has been allocated by all these corporate houses towards CSR activities. Out of this, around Rs 96 crore has been spent in infrastructure development, Rs 71 crore utilized in educational development, around Rs 51 crore in health sector, Rs 41 crore for environmental protection, Rs 29 crore for core livelihood support, Rs 12 crore in vocational training and Rs 44 crore in other CSR activities. The fund allocation and spending pattern show substantial disparity among the districts in getting CSR projects. Around 10 districts have received 90 per cent of the CSR resources while some districts have been left out. Many CSR projects also failed to have any countable contribution towards priority sectors of the State’s development agenda.
Development Commissioner Balakrishnan along with other members emphasised that formation of a CSR Council would help in effective planning and implementation of CSR interventions. It would also facilitate the CSR activities and spending by the companies and help them report on developmental outcomes and impact of their projects.
This would make the entire gamut of CSR operations more open, transparent and target oriented. The meeting also deliberated over the objectives and modus-operandi of the proposed council.